Beyond Luxury: The Story of Rolex and the Navy SEALs

The question of why U.S. Navy SEALs once wore Rolex watches is a fascinating dive into the history of military equipment, where function and reliability were paramount. During the 1960s and 70s, a time when the first SEAL teams were being formed, Rolex was not primarily a luxury brand but rather a producer of highly specialized and durable tool watches. The Rolex Submariner, in particular, was an ideal piece of equipment for these elite divers. Its exceptional water resistance, rated for depths that exceeded the requirements of most missions, gave operators a high degree of confidence. The watch's rugged case and screw-down crown were designed to withstand the physical abuse of underwater demolition and combat swimming, while its automatic mechanical movement offered a level of reliability that battery-powered watches of the era could not match.